JetBlue Airways has announced a new twice-daily nonstop service from Jacksonville International Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to a press release. Flights start Dec. 18.

Previously, only U.S. Airlines (sic) had nonstop flights from Jacksonville to Washington D.C., said Michael Stewart, director of external affairs for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.

"Airlines make the determination on if the market has reached a level where they can add seats and make money," he said. "JetBlue has decided it can add the seats to this market. The market is growing."

The announcement is the latest in a string of Jacksonville flights that have rolled out recently: Silver Airways began nonstop service between Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale this week, and JetBlue is offering a similar service starting at the end of October.

The new flights to Fort Lauderdale come in the aftermath of Southwest Airlines announcing it was ending flights between Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville.